Petrol station retailers said the Government appeared “intent on creating a cris-is” which could see forecourts run dry within two days if drivers rushed out to fill up. And the AA said there was a risk of “turning a rumour into a crisis”.

Mr Maude later faced repeated calls to backtrack on his advice for drivers to store jerry cans in their garages but he refused to budge.

He said: “I am saying people should take sensible precautions within sensible limits and obviously within what the law allows. We want people to know there’s a risk of a strike, but that it’s not imminent.”

Brian Madderson, who represents independent forecourt operators, said: “We believe that cool heads must prevail here, and by cool heads, that means the Government as well.”